Builders and real estate agents say selling property to even one Dalit family in a society becomes detrimental to sales. Pulin Modi of Modi Constructions says, “Buyers do check out their neighbours before they book a flat in any area. Caste plays an important role as people want to live with their own class of people.” He further said that people even avoid the builders, who sell houses to Dalits.

Pankaj Shrimali, lecturer of history in G L S Arts college, says, “Wherever I had approached for house in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, I was denied as I was a Harijan. In Hari Nagar society in Gandhinagar, as a rule, they do not allow Harijans.”

Manjula Pradeep of Dalit Shakti Kendra says, “It is not always that people move to such ghettos because they were refused houses elsewhere. Even if a Dalit manages to find a house in such areas, the moment his identity is disclosed, his neighbours start avoiding him. This fear of rejection, social isolation and a need for social security has pushed most of the Dalits to such ghettos,” Pradeep adds.